Proverbs 10:4 4. He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.

[A] He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand [1] What does this mean? [2] When a man refuses to work, or refuses to do a decent job of trying to earn a living or in getting a job don, he will eventually become poor [3] God ordained that a man should work if he desires to eat Genesis 3:17-1917. And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; 18. Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; 19. In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return. [a] Because of their sin, no longer was man able to live in the garden and simply go out and pick his food from the trees and vines [b] Because of sin, man was ordered to till the ground, and grow his own food which would not be easy because weeds and thorns would grow and the ground would be hard. [c] The food he grew would come only by the sweat of his brow, with hard work 2 Thessalonians 3:10 10. For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. [d] History books would have us to believe that the early settlers, those at the Jamestown colony were they which came up with the phrase, if you do not work, you do not eat, but as you can see, it came from the bible

[B] The hand of the diligent maketh rich [1] What does this mean? [2] He who tries, and is willing to work, will get ahead and eventually have something [a] The person who works for what he gets, appreciates what he has, [b] A person to whom everything is given cares not for what he has, instead only wants more. [3] A person who works for what they get is rich in more than just material things [a] His body is healthy [b] His mind is satisfied [c] He has peace with himself, knowing he has done the best he can

Proverbs 10:5 5. He that gathereth in summer is a wise son: but he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame.

[A] the work of the field should be done in the season that is suitable for it.

[B] If summer and harvest is neglected or put off until later, the crops are wasted and there is no reward for your labor [1] The harvest must be harvested when the time is right [a] If the harvest is brought in too soon, there will not be as great a crop [b] If the harvest is brought in too late, much of the corp will be lost

[C] I am reminded of another harvest when I read this verse, a harvest that Jesus told us about Luke 10:2 2. Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth laborers into his harvest. [1] Lets take a moment and apply this statement to Proverbs five [a] A wise Christian, a wise disciple is one who works in the fields of harvest when the harvest is ready. [b] A wise disciple is one who takes every opportunity to bring the lost into the fold of Christ [2] Far too many Christians today are sleeping, and allowing the harvest to go to ruin [a] It’s as though many feel that they do not have to work in the harvest, but instead it is others job and responsibility [b] The result is, there are many around us who are lost and will not make it, all because we Christians are asleep, bringing shame to the name of Christ we carry

Proverbs 10:6 6. Blessings are upon the head of the just: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.

[A] The head of the just is crowned with blessings, [1] With the blessings of God [2] With the blessings of man. [a] A variety of blessings, and an abundance of blessings, shall descend from above, and visibly abide on the head of good men, [b] They will be real blessings; and the person shall not only be spoken well of, but done well to. [3] Yet the greatest blessing is yet to come [a] The just shall be rewarded in heaven, [b] God has a crown of righteousness awaiting them

[B] The mouth of the wicked is covered with violence. [1] The violent will have their mouth stopped with shame because of the violence they have done [2] When they stand before the righteous judge of all heaven and earth, they will have no words to say in excuse for themselves [a] The violent and the ungodly has much to say now, they lie, they speak loudly and boldly, but standing before God, there will be noting for them to say [b] When the wicked are cast into hell, the only words they will have to say is words of anguish as they cry out in pain and suffering.

Proverbs 10:7 7. The memory of the just is blessed: but the name of the wicked shall rot.

[A] Everyone eventually dies, [1] When buried there is little difference between the graves, looking at them from the outside, you can see no difference. [2] The real difference is in where the person spends their eternity [a] The just in heaven [b] The unjust in hell [3] There should also be a difference in how the person is remembered [a] A just man is remembered and blessed for what he was while living [b] A wicked mad is remembered as what he was as well, a wicked person

[B] The memory of the just is blessed [1] is remembered for his goodness [2] He is remembered for his godliness [3] His memory remains as an example of how others should live their life

[C] The memory of the wicked shall rot [1] When one remembers the wicked, they do not remember the good they done, only the bad [2] The wicked also leaves behind memories, memories we try to forget and determine in our heart not to do ourselves. [a] There have been many who in their last minutes of life have accepted Jesus, and sought his forgiveness. I believe those who did, were forgiven. Yet the things remembered by them is not that they received Christ, but what they did to deserve the punishment they received. [b] There are those who grew up in a good home, and was a good child, yet at some time in their life, they turned bad. When those die, it is not the good from their childhood that is remembered, it is the bad they did.

Proverbs 10:8 10. The wise in heart will receive commandments: but a prating fool shall fall.

[A] The wise will receive commandments [1] A wise person is glad to be told when they are doing wrong because they want to do right [2] A wise person is one who is trying to learn the truth by reading, studying and hearing the word of God as they seek to do what is right and pleasing to God

[B] A prating fool shall fall [1] Prating means to talk long and loud and to chatter foolishly [2] A prating fool is someone who thinks they have all the answers, and tries to convince others that they are right [a] They elevate themselves [b] They try to make themselves look good [c] They are proud [d] Eventually they will fall, and great will be the fall

Proverbs 10:9 9. He that walketh uprightly walketh surely: but he that perverteth his ways shall be known.

[A] He that walketh uprightly walketh surely [1] When one lives their life in an upright manor, he or she has nothing to fear [a] An upright person has nothing to hide [b] They have done nothing they have to guard themselves against [2] The upright person does not live a double life. [a] What you see is what you get [b] He or she is what they are, nothing more and nothing less

[B] He that perverteth his ways shall be known [1] Someone who is living a double life will eventually be caught in a lie [2] Try as you may, there are signs of the evil in your life. [a] Even if one fools us, they will not fool God

Proverbs 10:10 10. He that winketh with the eye causeth sorrow: but a prating fool shall fall.

[A] Here Solomon describes two types of sinner [1] A sneaking, deceitful one, that winketh with the eye [2] One who is a prating fool

[B] He that winketh with the eye [1] He is not talking about simply winking at someone, instead he is talking about doing thing on the sly, and cheating others [a] He is referring to things like what happens in politics which affect so many people, [b] He is speaking of things like the scams that many are running against the elderly and others [c] He is speaking of those who use deceitful means to hurt other people [2] These people are often hard to spot, but they cause much sorrow to others

[C] A prating fool shall fall [1] A prating fool, runs his or her mouth so much, that it is obvious as to what they are [2] They are so busy running their mouth, they cannot hide

Proverbs 10:11 11. The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.

[A] The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life [1] A good man is communicates his goodness, by speaking words [2] His mouth, the outlet of his mind, [a] Is a well of life [b] Is a constant spring that issues discourses for the edification of others [c] Is like a streams that waters the ground and make it fruitful [d] Is like a streams that quench the thirst of the weary traveler. [3] It is like a well of life [a] It is pure and clean [b] It is not poisoned or muddled with corrupt communication.

[B] Violence covereth the mouth of the wicked [1] The wicked does their best to cover their wickedness with the words of their mouth [2] The wicked lies, and tells all manor of falsehoods to cover their sins [3] Judas claimed to be a friend of Christ with his mouth, yet in the end, he betrayed him with a kiss from that same mouth